I got up that morning in a hurry. I grabbed my make-shift uniform and put it on as fast as I could while hopping towards the door. It was my first day on the job and I had no intention of being late. Snatching up my splintered nightstick, I bolted out the door. After about twenty minutes of walking I got there: the bazaar. I was a little less than excited to be standing in the sweltering heat for eight hours, but at least I was getting paid for it. About two hours into my shift and a large number of passing people, an odd bunch entered the scene. I didn't think much of them at first. They didn't look all that suspicious, so I let them pass without question, but I kept my eyes and ears on their toes just in case.
“What's on the list then?” the shortest one asked, peering over the arms of the other two.
“Uhm, we need bleach, big barrels, and charcoal. Who wants to look for what?” the larger of the three responded, counting up the cost of it all in his head.
The aroma of the bazaar wafted over the dead breeze that passed under the tents. I lost my appetite and interest in the group, figuring they were just on a grocery trip. As I waited around, I heard them arguing with the weighty man who had been trying to sell his bleach for hours. Unsure of the outcome, I put my hand on my nightstick and watched carefully. As the two larger ones bartered and what they must have thought was distracting the seller, the short skinny boy slipped away from the group. Interestingly enough, he tried to sneak behind the booth next door. Since he obviously had not been thinking clearly, I didn't worry much about catching him in the act. Unfortunately for him, he snatched the most rancid of meat off the rack. This had gotten interesting, fast. Apparently, the shorty thought it was a good idea to try to sell the meat off on the other sellers!
“Tasty meat here! Buy it! It's good, trust me!” he yelled out in a tizzy. “It's the best meat you'll ever meet!”
I looked to the meet merchant for information, but he simply shrugged and grinned. I could see the look on the sellers around me, both of disgust and amusement.
Shortly after the short one went on his tangent, the one with the list had gone to visit Tessa for the barrels. She was in a mood that day too. I drowned out her yelling and followed the last of the three to the newest merchant to the bazaar, Marvin. He was still unpacking and was already working up a solid and filthy sweat. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but it seemed civil, so I let them be.
I dozed off against the tent's support for what couldn't have been but a few minutes. Snapping to attention, I looked frantically for the three trouble makers. The shorty was still pawning meat, the list-holder was flirting with Tessa, and the other was drinking bleach with Marvin. I guess the heat effects everything...especially meat.
“What's on the list then?” the shortest one asked, peering over the arms of the other two.
“Uhm, we need bleach, big barrels, and charcoal. Who wants to look for what?” the larger of the three responded, counting up the cost of it all in his head.
The aroma of the bazaar wafted over the dead breeze that passed under the tents. I lost my appetite and interest in the group, figuring they were just on a grocery trip. As I waited around, I heard them arguing with the weighty man who had been trying to sell his bleach for hours. Unsure of the outcome, I put my hand on my nightstick and watched carefully. As the two larger ones bartered and what they must have thought was distracting the seller, the short skinny boy slipped away from the group. Interestingly enough, he tried to sneak behind the booth next door. Since he obviously had not been thinking clearly, I didn't worry much about catching him in the act. Unfortunately for him, he snatched the most rancid of meat off the rack. This had gotten interesting, fast. Apparently, the shorty thought it was a good idea to try to sell the meat off on the other sellers!
“Tasty meat here! Buy it! It's good, trust me!” he yelled out in a tizzy. “It's the best meat you'll ever meet!”
I looked to the meet merchant for information, but he simply shrugged and grinned. I could see the look on the sellers around me, both of disgust and amusement.
Shortly after the short one went on his tangent, the one with the list had gone to visit Tessa for the barrels. She was in a mood that day too. I drowned out her yelling and followed the last of the three to the newest merchant to the bazaar, Marvin. He was still unpacking and was already working up a solid and filthy sweat. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but it seemed civil, so I let them be.
I dozed off against the tent's support for what couldn't have been but a few minutes. Snapping to attention, I looked frantically for the three trouble makers. The shorty was still pawning meat, the list-holder was flirting with Tessa, and the other was drinking bleach with Marvin. I guess the heat effects everything...especially meat.